Elevator Bath Founder Colin Andrew Sheffield
"There Are Surely More Vegan Musicians out There Than We Realize"
Elevator Bath founder Colin Andrew Sheffield sat down with me for an interview. The record label owner/operator and sound artist is also a vegan, having been one for more than 20 years, so we had plenty to talk about. Please enjoy the read and learn everything about his newest LP, "Serenade" (RD July 11th, 2025), his way of making music, and his activism!
Anne: Hi Colin! Thanks for taking the time. It's a pleasure speaking to you. How are you doing today? How are things?
Colin: Thanks so much, Anne! It's great to talk with you.
Anne: You've been active with your label Elevator Bath since 1998. That's quite a long time. What has changed since the early days? Do you sometimes wish you had them back? Or are you glad they're a thing of the past?
"It's amazing how things have changed"
Colin: It's kind of amazing just how much has changed since those days. In the 1990s, people still bought music in stores or through mail-order catalogs (over the phone or through the mail), just as they had done for decades. So, when the internet and then smartphones came along, everything changed and then kept changing at a rapid pace. I do actually miss the old days in some respects. On the other hand, finding music, making and disseminating it, as well as manufacturing physical products, is all much more accessible than it used to be. And I'd say that's a net gain. It's perhaps more difficult to stand out and make a name for oneself these days, but maybe that's for the best, too.
Anne: You're planning to release a new album in July. Congrats on this one. It turned out very well! What inspired you to write "Serenade"? You described it as a collection of plundered atmospherics, and to be honest, that's what made me want to dive into them. It's the perfect combination and the most precise description of what I love most about music.
Colin: Thank you! The inspiration for this album was an idea I had about working with the types of samples that classic hip hop producers might have used, but with entirely different results. So, I used funk, soul, jazz, and library records from my personal collection. Mainly, it was an experiment for myself. I have always tried to make atmospheric music, and utilizing these particular sounds for that purpose was an appealing challenge.
Anne: How many people were involved in finishing "Serenade"?
Colin: I suppose that depends on how you count such things. Every aesthetic decision was made solely by me. I recorded it all at home and did all the editing and mixing. But there were a lot of people involved in other aspects, such as mastering the finished audio (thanks to Stephan Mathieu and Andreas Lubich), taking the photographs I used for the cover (thanks to Adam Pacione), and just general advice or consultation during the recording process (thanks to several friends and family members).
Anne: The 12 pieces on "Serenade" are audio collages of your stylistic and technical development over the last 25+ years. How was it to browse through your catalogue of all those steps and stages of your creativity? I can imagine this is quite intense.
"'Serenade' is more a culmination than a combination"
Colin: I suppose I think of this album as more of a culmination than a combination, if that makes sense. So, in that respect, the amalgamation of different styles or approaches happened almost unconsciously.
Anne: Your music lives from its loops, textures, and layers. Is this how life is?
Colin: Perhaps! I've never thought of that correlation, but you may be onto something.
Anne: More than 20 years ago, you decided to go vegan. For me, it's been 12 years now, and I remember that day as if it were yesterday. Can you relate to that?
Colin: Yes, I do. But I must admit that I don't actually recall the exact date! My wife and I went vegan together and did so around her birthday, just over 21 years ago, so that's the day that we think of as our "veganniversary" now.
Anne: That's a beautiful idea! I love it. You are from Austin, Texas. How would you describe the vegan/animal rights and music scene in your city?
Colin: The vegan scene here is generally quite good. But, like many (if not all) cities, it waxes and wanes. Around a decade ago, the scene here was burgeoning and not all that well-developed yet. Eventually, Austin came to be absolutely great, with tons of all-vegan businesses spread across town. It was really wonderful. That lasted right up until the COVID-19 shutdown. And, unfortunately, several restaurants here did not survive that period. The vegan scene here has since partially recovered, but not to the same level as the pre-COVID times. And, sadly, I expect those days are gone forever.
Austin is well-known for its music scene, and although I would say that the city's reputation is pretty overstated, there are, in fact, a number of venues and series for experimental, improvised, or otherwise creative music. So, we're quite fortunate. Anyone who wants to play out here can find opportunities very easily. There are several high-quality record stores here, too. I think it's still a good music town.
Anne: What you said about Austin's vegan scene actually reminds me of Hamburg. It's exciting to see these parallels. But you're probably right, and it's the same for most cities.
Is there a vegan place in Austin you'd like to recommend to the readers of Sounds Vegan?
Colin: Absolutely. I could list several, but I will limit myself to two. Li'l Nonna's Pizza is an extraordinarily great all-vegan pizzeria where everything is scratch-made and truly delicious! My other favorite spot is Nissi VegMex, an entirely vegan Mexican restaurant serving the most incredible tacos and flautas I've ever had!
Anne: That sounds so exciting! I would love to come visit Austin one day.
How has your commitment to veganism influenced your approach to making music, if at all?
"The next album is based on recordings Andrew made of rescued chickens at an animal sanctuary"
Colin: I tend to compartmentalize my interests in some respects. So, my solo work generally does not have much direct correlation with veganism or animal rights (although at recent solo live performances, I have been showing a background video I compiled of footage of various so-called "food animals" in their natural habitat as a way to emphasize their beauty). However, I have a project with my friend (and fellow vegan), Andrew Anderson, that focuses on animals much more clearly. Our first release was entirely made from or inspired by animal sounds (again, specifically so-called "food animals"). And our forthcoming album was made in the same way. In fact, this new album, which should be released later this year or possibly in early 2026, is based on recordings Andrew made of rescued chickens at an animal sanctuary. The cover art was also provided by the important vegan noise artist, Masami Akita (AKA Merzbow).
Anne: Have you also used your music or your label, Elevator Bath, as a platform to promote animal rights or veganism? Would you like to name an example?
Colin: Yes. The biggest example of this was with my food trailer, Pulse Vegan, which I operated in Austin from 2014 to 2015. I bought a trailer and then had a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to finish it out with new equipment and a new paint job, etc. Supporters who contributed to the Kickstarter campaign at a certain monetary level could receive a gift of a special limited edition 7" record, released by Elevator Bath. That record was called "Pulse Vegan" and it featured two tracks by the previously mentioned Merzbow created especially for this project. That endeavor got quite a lot of attention (Pitchfork even posted a little story about it), and the Kickstarter campaign was a success. The trailer didn't last very long, for various reasons, but I'm still proud of the effort.
Anne: You can definitely be proud of that! That sounds so exciting. I find it fascinating how much you've tried in your career. It's truly creative.
Experimental music often challenges listeners to think in a different way. Do you believe music can be a tool for social change, particularly about veganism or animal rights?
Colin: Yes, I do. When you're dealing with abstract, non-vocal music, it can be challenging to express very specific ideas. But anything we can do to get people thinking about different perspectives is useful.
Anne: You contributed to a recent animal rights compilation. Can you share more about that project and what it meant to you both personally and artistically?
Colin: That project (FleshTV1) was spearheaded by my friend, Sukitoa o Namau. She created a very special compilation and accompanying book; the whole package turned out beautifully. It's a really impressive lineup of sound artists, all of whom also contributed to the book (I wrote an essay about how and why I went vegan). The solo track I made for the compilation was inspired by dolphins, though in an oblique sort of way. Several friends and collaborators were involved with that project, so it's quite a wonderful thing to be a part of.
Anne: A question a friend asked me some days ago was: Does being vegan influence your choices regarding buying things like records and stuff? And I think it's quite a good one. So, I'd love to forward it to you. Does it influence your choices when it comes to physical music production, such as vinyl, packaging, or merchandise?
Colin: Certainly. Choices for these things tend to be somewhat limited, but thankfully, they do not usually involve animal-derived components. So, I focus on other issues, such as not having products manufactured in countries with a history of human rights abuses. For example, I always use t-shirts that were made in the USA and preferably by unionized shops. Still, with all of these productions, I think pollution is a huge problem. I'm always trying to reuse packaging materials, for instance, and avoid creating waste. But it's hard. Creating or buying any new physical product is inherently problematic.
Anne: Are there vegan or animal rights-oriented artists who inspired you along the way? Either musically or in your activism. Would you like to name them?
Colin: I've mentioned him a few times already, but the obvious answer is Masami Akita (Merzbow). I'm a huge fan of his sound art, of course, but his totally unapologetic outspokenness for animals has been very inspiring. He's made it such a focus of his persona that animal rights has become widely associated with him now, even though he was active for many years prior to going vegan. Other than Masami, however, I don't have that many references within this genre. Truth be told, I'm kind of perpetually disappointed by how few experimental or electronic musicians seem to prioritize animal rights. There are surely more out there than I realize, but it can feel lonely sometimes, especially in Texas.
Anne: What's up next for you? What do your plans for today look like? And for the rest of this year?
"I can't think of a better starting point for an infinitely better world than this moment"
Colin: Today, I will be packaging up some records to be mailed and sending some promotional emails for the next releases coming out on Elevator Bath. I may go to a record store. Nothing too exciting. For the rest of the year, I will be finalizing the next couple of releases for the label, as well as the previously mentioned collaborative release I have coming out with Andrew Anderson, which will be released by a different label. I have some live shows coming up soon, and I need to prepare for them as well. Finally, I hope to get started on new solo work before the end of the year.
Anne: If there was one thing in the world you could change. What would it be and why?
Colin: That's a big question! So, I think my big answer would be to eradicate capitalism worldwide. The great majority of evils in this world have sprung from capitalism. So, I can't think of a better starting point for an infinitely better, more equitable, and more just world for all living things.
Anne: Thanks so much for answering my questions! I wish you all the best for the release of "Serenade"!
"Serenade" by Colin Andrew Sheffield will be released on July 11th, 2025. You can already check out some of the songs here:
